Albert c



No. 608,|64. Patented July 26, |898.

A..C\.` WRIGHT.

ANKLE JOINT.

(Application Bled Feb. 23, 1898.)

ALBERT O. WRIGHT, OF BRI'IT, IOWA, ASSIGN OR OF ONE-HALF TO CLAYTON A. STUBBINS, OF SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters :Patent No. 608,164, dated July 26, 1898. Application filed February `28, 1898. Serial No. 671,278. (No model-l To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known thatI, ALBERT C. WRIGHT, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Britt,

in the county of I-Iancock and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ankle-Joints; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.'

uThis invention relates to an improvement in artificial limbs, and more particularly to an improved ankle-joint for use thereon, my object being to provide a simple, light, and inexpensive construction which shall have great ease and at the same time efliciently hold the foot in the desired position.

To this end the invention relates to the various matters hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a longitudinal sectional elevation. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectionalelevation on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a detail of the convex plate, and Fig. Il is a detail of the lower member of the joint.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, A represents a portion of a leg including the ankle, B a foot, and C the present ankle-joint. The bottom of the legportion A is convex, as at a, and fits a corresponding concave portion b toward the rear of the foot B. In this rearportion of the foot is provided an opening or chamber h', which at a convenient distance below the top of the opening is provided with a shoulder b2. A channel b3, leading from the opening b', cxtends into the foot toward the instep.

The joint, properly speaking, comprises a lower member secured to the foot and an upper member secured upon the leg. The lower member is composed of a band c, of metal or other suitable material of a general elliptical shape to conform to the contour of the inner wall of the opening b in the foot, this band resting upon the shoulder h. In order to insure ease, this shoulder is preferably padded, as at b4, below the band c. Suitable stay- -rods c', secured to the band by means of eyes c2 or in any other convenient manner, enter the openings b5 through the foot and are fasstay-rods are threaded, as at c3, and are engaged by nuts c4, which enter the openings h6 from the under side of the foot. The band c is concave to conform to the shape of the opening in the foot. Extending lengthwise of the lower member-alc., in the direction corresponding with the length of the footis a concave cross-piece c5, attached at its ends to the band, this cross-piece being provided with a V-shaped channel c6.

The upper member of the joint comprises a convex plate c7, which is secured upon the bottom of the leg by means of screws or other suitable members and is provided with a ballrace. This plate fits upon the lower member of the joint and has suitable movement thereon. A strap e8 upon thelower side of the plate embraces the cross-piece upon the lower member, thus holding the two parts of the joint together and at the same time permitting the plate and cross vpiece to roll forwardly and backwardly upon suitable balls placed in the channel c6. The strap is curved in its body portion and a slight rock therefor afforded. An arm e9 also extends downwardly from the strap and is provided with an eye C10. A coiled springen, attached at one end to the eye 'cw in the arm, enters the chamber `formed in the foot and lies in the recess extending toward the instep, the forward end of this spring being held by a screw or other suitable member cl3. In the groove of the cross-piece upon the lower plate are placed the balls c, which afford a roller-bearing between the two members of the joint.

It is thought that the operation of this joint will now be apparent.V The backwardand-forward movement between the two members afforded bythe strap upon the top plate and the bending of the foot with relation to the leg in the movement of walking affords a movement similar to that incident to the use of a natural ankle and has rbeen found of great ease and comfort to the wearer.

l-Iaving thus described myinvention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an artificial limb, the combinationwith a foot-section and a leg-sectiomfa con- IOO cave plate secured to the foot-section, and a convex plate secured to the leg-section,balls interposed between said plate, a strap secured to the plate of the leg-section and embracing the plate of the foot-section, an arm secured to the strap, and a spring having one end secured to the arm and the other end secured to the foot-section, substantially as set forth.

2. In an artificial limb, the combination with a foot-section and a leg-section, said footsection provided With a chamber co1nmunicating with a longitudinal horizontal channel, said chamber being provided With an offset or shoulder, a convex plate secured to the leg-section and provided With a groove, a convex plate having a depending band or collar located within the chamber and seated ALBERT O. WRIGHT.

Witnesses WILLIAM E. BRADFORD, CLARA FITZSIMMONS. 

